4 THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR BABY GROOMING KIT

Every human being needs grooming, including babies. If you make a habit of grooming your baby since birth and continue it through their adolescence, they will understand its importance and start doing it by their selves.

Proper grooming is essential to keep the baby's body and skin healthy. Lack of grooming can adversely affect your baby's self-esteem once they get older. Low self-esteem can lead to depression, loneliness, and stress.

There are many grooming kits available for your baby. Choosing the right kit can make the grooming process simple and delightful. These kits include the following grooming supplies:

● Toothbrush

● Hairbrush

● Baby tub

● Baby shampoo

● Baby soap

● Baby wipes

● Nasal aspirator

● Thermometer

● Baby oils

● Cotton Balls

● Nail clipper

● Heating pad

● Gum massager

At first, you don't have to keep your cabinets full of baby grooming products, as most of the accessories in the baby care kit you're never going to use. It is advisable to go for a basic grooming kit which can also be built by yourself.

All you need is a guide on the things you need in your baby grooming kit. Here's what we suggest you for your baby's grooming, and nothing else.

You must have these basic 4 things in that kit:

1) BABY BATHTUB:

Baths are important for your baby's hygiene. It is not only beneficial for grooming and cleaning your baby but also your major responsibility. It can also be relaxing for both of you.

Some parents bathe their babies in the washbasin (after cleaning it, of course!), however, the bathtub is the most suitable.

Before you start giving a bath to your baby, keep all the things you will need. These can be:

● Baby shampoo.

● Towel.

● Cotton pads.

● Nappy and clothes.

● Blanket if it's cold outside.

● Anything else you may need before start giving a bath.

After gathering all the necessary supplies, you are ready to get started!

Steps For A Successful Bath:

1) Have Everything You Will Need By The Bathtub:

Make sure you have all the supplies I mentioned above by your side. As you can't leave the baby or stop the bath halfway. Once you put your baby in the bathtub, you can't walk away.

2) Put Water In Your Baby's Bathtub:

The second step is to fill your baby's bathtub with water. 2 to 3 inches of water is enough for an infant.

The water temperature should be in the range of 90 and 100 degrees. You can use a thermometer to see the temperature.

Never put a baby in the bathtub without checking the water temperature. You can also test the water on your wrist or elbow.

3) Place Your Baby In The Bathtub:

Now gently place your baby in the bathtub while supporting the baby's head with one hand and the other hand under their bum. Dip their toes first.

While placing your baby in the bathtub, make sure that the floor is dry, so that you won't slip while carrying the baby. Their head should be above water for safety purpose.

4) Be Attentive About Your Baby:

Some infants enjoy in the bathtub while others need time to become habitual of it. Whatever the case is, just make sure to keep a close eye on your baby.

If they are enjoying, let them be in the tub for a while. If they don't seem comfortable, try to minimize their bath time.

5) Wash Your Baby's Head And Face:

Put some water on your baby's head and make sure to keep the water out of his/her eyes. After putting water on the head, use a small amount of baby shampoo, and wash their hair.

Use shampoo only if the baby has enough hair, otherwise wipe his head with a washcloth. Using cotton balls for a baby's head and face is also a great option.

There is no need to wash your baby's hair every day, once or twice a week is sufficient. Do not use shampoo if your baby has eczema.

6) Wash Their Body:

Once you are done with the baby's head and face, it's time to wash their arms, tummy, back, and legs. Using a wet cloth or water, wash the rest of the body gently.

Dip the washcloth in warm water and wash your baby's body from neck to toe.

7) Get Your Baby Out Of The Bathtub:

Once you have done bathing your baby, gently lift him out from the bathtub. Pat him dry by using a towel. Dry them quickly to stop them from getting cold. Remember to dry well and to get in all creases.

Bath Tub Safety Tips

● Never put your baby in a bathtub while water is running.

● Never leave your baby alone in a tub.

● Don't look back, even for a second.

● Make sure that the water is comfortably warm.

● Keep all electronic devices away from the water.

2) NAIL CLIPPER:

When the baby is very small, you can peel the ends off with your fingers. But when he turns about a month old, his nails will become harden. This is when you will need a baby nail scissors or clippers.

As fingernails usually grow fast, cut them twice weekly. Toenail does not grow as quickly as fingernails, so you do not have to trim them as often as you trim fingernails.

Here are the things you will need to trim your baby nails:

● Bright light.

● Baby clippers.

Steps For Cutting Nails Successfully:

1) Giving A Bath To Baby:

We recommend cutting babies nail after the bath, as they are softest at that time. Trim them gently right after you give a bath and dressed them.

If you haven't given a bath to a baby and want to trim nails, soak them in water for a few minutes. They will become soft and easy to trim.

2) Use Natural or Flashlight:

Trim your baby's nail in natural light by a window side. If it is not available at the moment, trim them using any bright light. The purpose is to make sure you have enough light to see at your baby's finger and to ensure his safety.

3) Use Baby Clippers or Scissors:

After giving a bath and having enough light, it's a time to use baby clippers. Remember to buy clippers according to the size of your baby's little finger.

To avoid any hand movements which may cause any danger to the baby, try to trim them while they sleep. Cut them by following the curve of the nail. Be aware about not cutting too much.

You can also use baby nail scissors instead of nail clippers. They are safe and easy to use.

Nail Cutting Safety Tips :

● Have plenty of light.

● The size of nail clippers should be small.

● Distract your baby with any activity.

● If the baby is sleeping, it is the best time to clip nails.

● Take extra care of the rough edges.

● Make sure that clippers are clean.

3) EARWAX REMOVAL:

Earwax may seem dirty, but it isn't bad for your baby. It is absolutely normal and healthy. Everyone has it. It serves the purpose of a natural water-proofing agent.

After seeing a bit of wax in the baby's ear, many parents make a mistake of cleaning it with cotton swabs. It pushes the wax further and can cause injury.

Remember not to use cotton swabs as it is not safe for babies. When you see earwax in your baby, clean the outside of the ear.

It is important to clean your baby's ear and keep them hygienic. You will need only these things to clean your baby's ear:

● Cotton ball / Washcloth.

● Warm water.

Steps For Cleaning Ear :

1) Dip the washcloth or cotton ball in warm water.

2) Gently rub behind the baby's ear.

3) Repeat the process with the other ear.

4) NASAL ASPIRATOR:

Another important thing for grooming your baby is a nasal aspirator. It is a tiny tool which gives relief to your congested baby. It will help you clean your baby's nasal.

Using a nasal aspirator is important for the comfort of your infant, as it will allow your baby to sleep and eat comfortably.

Things You Will Need:

● Baby nasal aspirator/bulb syringe.

● Saline Nose Drops.

● Comfortable place with enough light.

● Washcloths.

● Wet wipes.

Steps Of Using Nasal Aspirator

1) Lay down your baby with the chin slightly up.

2) Squeeze a few saline nasal drops into your baby's nose to moisten.

3) Hold for 20-30 seconds to allow saline solution to work.

4) Squeeze the air out of the bulb and gently insert its tip in your baby's nostrils.

5) Release the bulb slowly and squeeze it into a tissue or cloth.

6) Clean the tip and do the same process with the other nostril.

Nasal Cleaning Safety Tips

● Use nasal aspirator gently to avoid any injury.

● Doing suction 2 to 3 times per day is enough.

● Don't forget to clean the aspirator after each use.

● Avoid suctioning too deep.

Keep all the grooming essentials on a high shelf so that your baby won’t be able to grab them.